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Endurance Mysteries #2
Marry in Haste
Marry in Haste, is the story of two lives over a hundred years apart, both illustrating the resilience of women in the small town of Endurance.
Grace Kimball, retired teacher, is writing for the Endurance Register and dating its editor, Jeff Maitlin. When he buys a huge Victorian house and borrows money from the bank, he sets off a chain of events that puts Grace in danger. Conrad Folger, the bank president, is murdered, and his wife, Emily, becomes the prime suspect. Grace’s friend and Endurance police detective, TJ Sweeney, investigates, and Grace also sets out to prove her former student innocent.
If Grace is right and Emily Folger is innocent, who else had a motive to kill the bank president? A list of possible suspects emerges: spurned lovers, unhappy bank clients, and even family members.
Grace and Jeff also find a diary from 1893 in Lockwood House, Jeff’s newly-bought mansion. Written by a naïve 17-year-old who comes to Endurance from a small farm, it tells Olivia Havelock’s bittersweet story. She marries a powerful judge, and what begins as a joyous event quickly turns to terror.
As Grace reads the diary, she soon sees parallels to the life of Emily Folger. Can the lessons from the past help Grace clear Emily’s name? And can she do it in time, before a killer strikes again?
Grace Kimball, retired teacher, is writing for the Endurance Register and dating its editor, Jeff Maitlin. When he buys a huge Victorian house and borrows money from the bank, he sets off a chain of events that puts Grace in danger. Conrad Folger, the bank president, is murdered, and his wife, Emily, becomes the prime suspect. Grace’s friend and Endurance police detective, TJ Sweeney, investigates, and Grace also sets out to prove her former student innocent.
If Grace is right and Emily Folger is innocent, who else had a motive to kill the bank president? A list of possible suspects emerges: spurned lovers, unhappy bank clients, and even family members.
Grace and Jeff also find a diary from 1893 in Lockwood House, Jeff’s newly-bought mansion. Written by a naïve 17-year-old who comes to Endurance from a small farm, it tells Olivia Havelock’s bittersweet story. She marries a powerful judge, and what begins as a joyous event quickly turns to terror.
As Grace reads the diary, she soon sees parallels to the life of Emily Folger. Can the lessons from the past help Grace clear Emily’s name? And can she do it in time, before a killer strikes again?
- GenresMystery
Hardcover
First published November 19, 2014
7 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Susan Van Kirk
23 books89 followersSusan Van Kirk's book, Death in a Ghostly Hue, has been nominated for a 2025 Anthony Award for Best Paranormal Mystery.
Susan Van Kirk was born in Galesburg, Illinois, and educated at Knox College (BA) and University of Illinois (M.Ed). She taught for thirty-four years at Monmouth High School in Monmouth, Illinois,(1968-2002), and an additional ten years at Monmouth College (2002-2012.)
She wrote a memoir of her teaching life in "The Education of a Teacher (Including Dirty Books and Pointed Looks)," published 2010.
Her Endurance Mysteries include "Three May Keep a Secret," "Marry in Haste," "The Locket: From the Casebook of TJ Sweeney," "Death Takes No Bribes," and "The Witch's Child, and "Fabric of Lies."" Harlequin Worldwide Mystery has republished this series.
"A Death at Tippitt Pond" is a standalone cozy mystery.
The Art Center Mysteries, published by Level Best Books include "Death in a Pale Hue," "Death in a Bygone Hue," and "Death in a Ghostly Hue" (July 2024.)
She divides her time between her home in Monmouth, Illinois, and Phoenix, Arizona, where her children and grandchildren live.
Susan Van Kirk was born in Galesburg, Illinois, and educated at Knox College (BA) and University of Illinois (M.Ed). She taught for thirty-four years at Monmouth High School in Monmouth, Illinois,(1968-2002), and an additional ten years at Monmouth College (2002-2012.)
She wrote a memoir of her teaching life in "The Education of a Teacher (Including Dirty Books and Pointed Looks)," published 2010.
Her Endurance Mysteries include "Three May Keep a Secret," "Marry in Haste," "The Locket: From the Casebook of TJ Sweeney," "Death Takes No Bribes," and "The Witch's Child, and "Fabric of Lies."" Harlequin Worldwide Mystery has republished this series.
"A Death at Tippitt Pond" is a standalone cozy mystery.
The Art Center Mysteries, published by Level Best Books include "Death in a Pale Hue," "Death in a Bygone Hue," and "Death in a Ghostly Hue" (July 2024.)
She divides her time between her home in Monmouth, Illinois, and Phoenix, Arizona, where her children and grandchildren live.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 19, 2021
Another great story.
July 6, 2017
Marry in Haste is the second in the Endurance mystery series (Three Can Keep a Secret started it off). This is a very engaging read by Susan Van Kirk who features Grace Kimball a retired English teacher from a Midwest small town as her featured character --characters and settings Van Kirk develops expertly as a retired English teacher from a small Midwest town. Like many teachers who retire in the towns in which they taught, Grace is always encountering former students or townspeople wh0 usually have just one degree of separation from a former student. When a former favorite student is accused of murdering her prominent banker husband, Grace takes notice. Her disbelief causes her to get involved in helping her friend and former student Police Chief TJ Sweeney try to prove otherwise. It leads to an interesting trail of suspects and clues uncovering the darker underside of life in many small towns. Van Kirk tells the contemporary tale while investigating the life of another woman from the past by discovering and reading a diary kept by the woman whose circumstances seem very familiar to the student she is trying to help. The reader gets both the historical perspectives and the current events that shape the town of Endurance. I am looking forward to Grace Kimball's return in a third volume in this series.
December 21, 2022
This is a new author for me.
A great murder mystery.
Grace Kimball a retired teacher is writing a column for the local paper and dating it's editor.
When the bank president is murdered and his wife one of Grace's former students is arrested for the crime. Grace decides to investigate after all many people wanted him dead. Than Grace finds an old diary in a mansion that Jeff bought and is remodeling. A fascinating story unfolds and another crime is solved this time from the past
A great murder mystery.
Grace Kimball a retired teacher is writing a column for the local paper and dating it's editor.
When the bank president is murdered and his wife one of Grace's former students is arrested for the crime. Grace decides to investigate after all many people wanted him dead. Than Grace finds an old diary in a mansion that Jeff bought and is remodeling. A fascinating story unfolds and another crime is solved this time from the past
March 12, 2017
Marry in Haste is the second in the Endurance mystery series (Three Can Keep a Secret started it off). This is a very engaging read by Susan Van Kirk who features Grace Kimball a retired English teacher from a Midwest small town as her featured character --characters and settings Van Kirk develops expertly as a retired English teacher from a small Midwest town. Like many teachers who retire in the towns in which they taught, Grace is always encountering former students or townspeople wh0 usually have just one degree of separation from a former student. When a former favorite student is accused of murdering her prominent banker husband, Grace takes notice. Her disbelief causes her to get involved in helping her friend and former student Police Chief TJ Sweeney try to prove otherwise. It leads to an interesting trail of suspects and clues uncovering the darker underside of life in many small towns. Van Kirk tells the contemporary tale while investigating the life of another woman from the past by discovering and reading a diary kept by the woman whose circumstances seem very familiar to the student she is trying to help. The reader gets both the historical perspectives and the current events that shape the town of Endurance. I am looking forward to Grace Kimball's return in a third volume in this series.
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March 23, 2017Interesting read for retired English teachers
February 22, 2017
A modern mystery and an historical mystery, both in the town of Endurance, contain certain similarities — both Emily, wife of bank president Conrad Folger, and Olivia, wife of a judge, are classic examples of battered wives. When Conrad is murdered, all clues point to Emily, but Grace Kimball, who was once her English teacher, is convinced of Emily's innocence. Grace is also intrigued by Olivia's diary, which she found hidden in an old Victorian mansion a friend just bought. More than just a run-of-the-mill mystery, this book is also extremely thought-provoking. Recommended.
February 12, 2017
Retired schoolteacher and part-time journalist Grace Kimball becomes involved in another murder case when her ex-student becomes a suspect. At the same time, Grace's editor--and recent boyfriend--buys a run-down mansion and asks Grace to find out about the history of the house. She finds a diary kept by one of the earliest inhabitants, and discovers strange parallels between the life of the second wife of the man who built the mansion, and the suspect in the current murder case.
September 9, 2016
I received this as an advanced uncorrected proof. I've been eagerly awaiting this book, and was excited to get my hands on it. This is book 2 in the series. This book had mystery, murder, and heart. I did correctly guess the murderer, but the author placed enough red herrings that I would not have bet on being correct. It was just a gut feeling. There were some loose strings that will lead into a 3rd book of the series. I especially enjoy the small Illinois town setting. It is familiar. I feel like I could live there.
August 23, 2016
Marry in Haste is both a riveting mystery and an unflinching look at domestic abuse, both past and present. Skillfully plotted, Van Kirk delves into a difficult subject matter with a deft touch. Her characters feel real, and her town of Endurance authentic and easily recognizable to those who have lived in small town America. Incisive and intriguing.
July 14, 2019
Another great twist to the series Endurance
I loved this book and I love how Grace continues to be the center of the mysteries of Endurance. TJ is still my favorite character but Grace is following close behind.
The education of Abused Women Awareness
was both informative and eye opening.
I am a fan of this series.
I loved this book and I love how Grace continues to be the center of the mysteries of Endurance. TJ is still my favorite character but Grace is following close behind.
The education of Abused Women Awareness
was both informative and eye opening.
I am a fan of this series.
January 4, 2017
Won this as a goodreads giveaway. Love this mystery!
December 18, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews